Where do you find yourself today? 

• Maybe you have a 9 to 5 job and a side hustle.
• Maybe you work on your business full time but you are a solopreneur.
• Maybe you care for your family and still want to pursue your passion.

Wherever you are in life, there is one universal truth:

>>Time is the most valuable thing you own. No matter how much money you have, the education you obtain, or your expertise in your field, you can never make or create more of it<<.

The good news is that it isn't too late to change or modify how you spend it.

Time management happens to be one of the most common complaints I hear from business owners: If everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, why does it seem like some can accomplish so much more than others?

I don’t know your particular situation, but what I do know is that productivity comes down to priorities.

When I was learning to manage my time as a business owner, and yet again as a new mom, it would be very common for me to say, “I don't have time.”

• I don’t have time for social media.
• I don’t have time to work out.
• I don’t have time for that event.

Then, somebody looked at me from across the table and said something so profound I’ve never forgotten it:

>>Why don't you change “I don't have time” to “that's not a priority for me.”<<

I’d like to invite you to try that on and see how it feels. 

For me, I realized the minute I said, “Marketing my business isn't a priority” that it wasn’t true.

I also tested saying, “Working out is not my priority.” Again, that wasn’t true either.

If you, too, find that your priorities aren’t accurately reflected in the way you spend your time, then it is time to change your schedule to be one that aligns with your values.

>>If it's not a priority, then, own it but if it is a priority, then, show it.<< 

It is okay to say, “I can't do all the things, and this isn’t a priority right now.” But if that’s the case, you also need to be ok with the results (or lack of them).

Ready to make some changes and balance your time to better reflect what your priorities are? Here are 5 steps that will do just that!

Write down what you need to do. 

Your brain is a miraculous place, but it was meant for generating ideas… not storing them. Trying to use your mental capacity as a storage unit can lead to stress, anxiety, and ultimately forgotten tasks. You can write these digitally in a project management system like Asana, or on a piece of paper. *You do you!*

Prioritize what's important versus what's urgent. 

What is important will move the needle forward. What is urgent may feel important, but ultimately it’s just busy work that can wait like email and Slack notifications.

Utilize small pockets of time. 

It used to be very common for me to look at the clock and waste 5-15 minute increments of time waiting for upcoming meetings or events by mindlessly scrolling on my phone. Now, I see what small tasks I can accomplish within that tight window. I’m then utilizing every single minute of the day. Give it a try and you’ll be surprised how much more you can actually accomplish!

Be honest about your capacity

No one wants to feel like they are failing, so be realistic in the intentions you set each day. If you don’t have time to do 25 different tasks, don’t add them to your list. Make sure you set yourself up for success and estimate your time well!

Learn to rest and not quit 

Make sure you are taking the time to step back when needed and return to a healthy baseline if you are feeling burnt out. I'm happy to say that being strict with putting parameters around what is work time and what's not has made a profound difference in my overall well-being and happiness, and I think it will do the same for you!

If you want to make the most of the time you have, check out my Productivity Planner and balance your responsibilities day in and out. It’s even complete with a sample from my daily to-do list! It’s a system I swear by and now it can be yours, too. Download it >>HERE!<<